Anybody got a homemade valve spring compressor that works well on Ts? 'Specially one that will work on an engine with the manifolds still on. Let' see it, please.
Or, recommend a good "store bought" one. I've had an old one for years that , as it turns out, is obviously not for a Model T.

the reality is, to me at least, not only does it require less use of a scarce resource (patience!), is that the speed gained by removing the manifolds well exceeds the time spent replacing them, so for me it isn't even a question of "IF" I take them off...those suckers are coming off!!

The other seven valves came and I removed a few more of the old ones. I find that some valves have as little as .006 clearance with the adjustable lifters "run all the way down". Not knowing how much adjustment is available in the lifters but knowing that the valves will "sink" some as they seat in, I need to have some taken off of the stems at the machine shop. But how much?

The other seven valves came and I removed a few more of the old ones. I find that some valves have as little as .006 clearance with the adjustable lifters "run all the way down". Not knowing how much adjustment is available in the lifters but knowing that the valves will "sink" some as they seat in, I need to have some taken off of the stems at the machine shop. But how much?

I would remove only about 0.010 inch. You can always remove more later if needed. You should easily adjust for 0.010 to 0.012 inch clearance with the adjustable lifters.